Signal transmission method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A signal transmission method and apparatus is to provide results of user inputs such as changing setting of appliances transmitting digital AV contents as real-time and by a more precise method. To achieve the object, there is provided a method for transmitting the digital AV contents and OSD by connecting a signal output apparatus  100  and a signal input apparatus  200  comprising a process of identifying whether OSD display mode is set or not, a process of judging whether the volume of OSD is larger than a certain volume if the OSD display mode is set, and a process of transmitting the OSD through an analog connect if the volume of the OSD is larger than a certain volume.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a video display apparatus, andparticularly, to a signal transmission method and apparatus betweenappliances which is able to be connected as digital method.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] These days, AN (AudioNideo) appliances are developed as digitalmethod, and the digital AN appliances are connected to each other by adigital network.

[0005] For example, a setup box and a digital TV are connected as IEEE1394 digital method, digital A/V contents (programs) are transmittedusing Isochronous Channel defined in IEEE 1394, and command language forcontrol is transmitted to AV/C (AudioNideo Control) format usingAsynchronous Transaction.

[0006] In addition, on-screen display (hereinafter, referred to as OSD)bitmap is transmitted through the Asynchronous Transaction using amethod defined in an Asynchronous Connection protocol.

[0007] However, the bitmap image such as OSD transmitted between the ANappliances is used to notify status or operation condition of theappliance, and transmission speed is an important element. However, ifthe image is transmitted through digital connect, the transmission speedis lowered.

[0008] That is, the Asynchronous Connection used in the IEEE 1394standard is a protocol originally used a transferring which should notinclude transfer error such as file transfer, and therefore, if thebitmap image such as OSD is transferred through the digital connect, thestatus and operation condition of the appliances can not be displayed asreal-time.

[0009] Also, the bitmap image such as OSD is transmitted through thedigital connect in the digital A/V appliances connected by the digitalnetwork, whereby the resolution is lowered, and the status and operationcondition of the appliances are not easily recognized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide asignal transmission apparatus and method by which the appliancestransmitting digital A/V (AudioNideo) contents are able to provideresults of user input such as setting change as real-time through ananalog connect, and are able to provide these results using a moredelicately.

[0011] To achieve the object of the present invention, the digital AVcontents are transmitted through a digital connect, and the OSD(On-Screen Display) for setting operation condition of the apparatus andcontrolling is transmitted through an analog connect in transmitting theAV contents and OSD by connecting a signal output apparatus and a signalinput apparatus.

[0012] That is, according to the present invention, an analog connect isset, as well as digital connect, between the signal output apparatustransmitting the digital AV contents and the signal input apparatusreceiving the corresponding digital contents.

[0013] When the OSD is wanted to be transmitted during the transmissionof the digital AV contents, a command is transmitted so that an inputterminal of the signal input apparatus receiving the digital AV contentsis changed from a digital terminal to an analog terminal. After that, incase that the needs to transmit the OSD is not required, a commandordering that the input terminal is changed from the analog terminal tothe digital terminal is transmitted.

[0014] Even in case that the OSD is transmitted through the analogconnect, the digital AV contents is continually transmitted through thedigital connect.

[0015] In addition, the transmission of the OSD through the analogconnect is made for the OSD of larger than a certain volume.

[0016] Therefore, in digital and analog connecting the signal outputapparatus and the signal input apparatus according to the presentinvention, the signal output apparatus includes an OSD generating unitfor generating the OSD for setting the operation condition or thecontrol of the appliance will be controlled, and a first controllingunit deciding whether the OSD is transmitted through the analog connector through the digital connect by checking the volume of the OSD, andcontrolling the OSD generating unit in accordance with the decision; andthe signal input apparatus includes a video display unit for displayingthe digital AV contents and the OSD transmitted from the signal outputapparatus, and a second controlling unit for controlling the videodisplay unit so that the input terminal is changed into the analogterminal when a transmission of the OSD more than a certain volume byinformation transmission with the signal output apparatus is detected.

[0017] The OSD generating unit includes a digital/analog (D/A) changeunit for transmitting the OSD more than a certain volume through theanalog connect, and the video display unit includes a video process unitfor compounding and processing the digital AV contents transmittedthrough the digital connect and the OSD in the D/A change unit in casethat the OSD is displayed.

[0018] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantagesof the present invention will become more apparent from the followingdetailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide afurther understanding of the invention and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

[0020] In the drawings:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a connect between appliancesaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0022]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of operation for on-screen displayaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodimentsof the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

[0024]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an apparatus according to oneembodiment of the present invention, as shown therein, there areprovided a signal output apparatus 100 including an A/V (AudioNideo)data source 120 encoding digital AV contents and transmitting them byMPEG TS (Motion Picture Experts Group-Transport Stream) format, an OSD(On-Screen Display) generating unit 130 generating OSD displaying statusor operation condition of the appliances which will be controlled, a D/A(Digital/Analog) change unit 140 changing the OSD in the OSD generatingunit 130 into analog signal in case of transmission through analog path,and a controlling unit 110 deciding whether a transmission path of theOSD is an analog path or a digital path by checking the volume of OSDwhile controlling the AV data source 120 and transmitting the decisionto the OSD generating unit 130 and the appliances displaying the digitalAV contents; and a signal input apparatus including an MPEG decoder 220processing the MPEG TS signal from the signal output apparatustransmitting the digital AV contents and outputting audio and videosignal, a video processing unit 230 compounding the video signal fromthe MPEG decoder 220 and the OSD from the signal output apparatus 100, avideo display unit 240 displaying the digital AV contents and the OSD onscreen on being inputted the video output signal from the videoprocessing unit 230, and a controlling unit 210 displaying the digitalAV contents by controlling the MPEG decoder 220 whiletransmitting/receiving the data with the controlling unit 110 includedin the signal output apparatus 100 and switching the video inputterminal of the video display unit according to the decision of the pathin the controlling unit 110 in OSD display mode; and these are connectedthrough digital and analog connects.

[0025] The operation and effect of the embodiment according to thepresent invention will be described with reference to the FIG. 2.

[0026] When a user chooses an appliance transmitting the wanted AVcontents (the signal output apparatus 100 in FIG. 1) using a remotecontroller or key matrix of an appliance receiving the digital AVcontents (the signal input apparatus 200 in FIG. 1), a digital connectis set between the signal output 100 and the signal input apparatus 200.

[0027] When the digital connect is set, the signal output apparatus 100transmitting the digital AV contents controls the AV data source 120 sothat the controlling unit 110 transmits the digital AV contents to thesignal input apparatus 200 through the digital connect, and the signalinput apparatus 200 receiving the digital AV contents controls the MPEGdecoder 220 so that the controlling unit 210 displays the AV contents onthe screen of the video display unit 240.

[0028] At that time, the MPEG decoder 220 outputs the video signal tothe video processing unit 230, and at the same time, outputs the audiosignal to the audio processing unit 250 by performing the signalprocessing on being inputted the digital AV contents of MPEG TS formatfrom the signal output apparatus 100.

[0029] Accordingly, the video display unit 240 being inputted the videosignal through the video processing unit 230 displays the digital AVcontents on screen, and at the same time, the audio processing unit 250being inputted the audio signal outputs an voice signal corresponding tothe digital AV contents.

[0030] After that, if the user pushes a certain key on the remotecontroller of the signal output apparatus 100 in order to display userinputs and results of the inputs of identifying information about thesignal output apparatus 100 receiving the digital AV contents orchanging the operation condition of the signal output apparatus 100 asthe OSD form, the controlling unit 110 decides whether the volume of theOSD is larger than a certain volume set before or not.

[0031] At that time, if the volume of the OSD which is about to bedisplayed is smaller than a certain volume, the controlling unit 110controls the OSD generating unit 130, so that the OSD is generated andtransmitted to the signal input apparatus 200 through the digitalconnect, and transmits the status that the OSD is transmitted throughthe digital connect to the controlling unit 210 of the signal inputapparatus 200.

[0032] Accordingly, the signal input apparatus 200 controls the videoprocessing unit 230 so that the controlling unit receives the OSD fromthe OSD generating unit 130 through the digital connect and displays iton the screen of the video displaying unit 240, whereby the user is ableto identify or to perform setting operation for the corresponding input.

[0033] If the volume of the OSD is judged to be larger than a certainvolume, the controlling unit 110 controls the OSD generating unit 130 sothat the OSD is outputted through the analog connect, not through thedigital connect, and informs the controlling unit 210 of the signalinput apparatus 200 of that fact.

[0034] At that time, when the OSD generating unit 130 generates the OSDcorresponding to the user input, the D/A change unit 140 changes the OSDinto an analog OSD signal and transmits the signal to the signal inputapparatus 200 through the analog terminal.

[0035] Accordingly, in the signal input apparatus 200, the videoprocessing unit 240 receives the video signal from the MPEG decoder, andat the same time, receives the OSD signal through the analog terminal bythe control of the controlling unit 210, and the OSD signal is outputtedto the video display unit 240 after a certain signal process isperformed, whereby the digital AV contents and the OSD are displayed onthe screen and the user is able to perform identifying or settingoperation for the corresponding input.

[0036] After that, if the user ends the OSD display or the OSD displayis no more needed because of passing a certain time during the OSD isreceive through the analog terminal, the controlling unit 110 controlsthe OSD generating unit 130 so that the generation of OSD is ended andthe ending is informed to the controlling unit 210 of the signal inputapparatus 200.

[0037] Accordingly, the video processing unit 230 changes the analogterminal for receiving the OSD into the digital terminal by control ofthe controlling unit 210 of the signal input apparatus 200.

[0038] That is, if the volume of the OSD is larger than a certainvolume, the OSD is transmitted through the digital connect in theconventional art, and therefore lowering of transmission speed happens.However, according to the present invention, the OSD is transmittedthrough the analog connect, whereby the user is able to see the digitalAV contents and the OSD as real-time.

[0039] On the other hand, for identifying the operation condition andsetting the controlling of an appliance, the remote controller of theappliance is used. However, the digital connect between the signal inputapparatus 200 and the signal output apparatus 100 is able to be made, sothe OSD screen for setting the operation and controlling of the signaloutput apparatus 100 is able to be displayed using the remote controllerof the signal input apparatus 200, whereby the user is able to input forthe signal output apparatus 100 even if the signal output apparatus 100is located in a place where the signal input apparatus 200 is notlocated.

[0040] On the contrary, on the side of the signal output apparatus 100,identifying of the operation and setting the control for the signalinput apparatus 200 are able to be made.

[0041] As described above, according to the present invention, a graphicOSD of large amount such as identifying the status of an appliance orchanging setting is transmitted through an analog interface, whereby theOSD of large amount is able to be provided as real-time while thedigital AV contents are provided as the digital form.

[0042] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, itshould also be understood that the above-described embodiments are notlimited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unlessotherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within itsspirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore allchanges and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of theclaims, or equivalence of such meets and bounds are therefore intendedto be embraced by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a method for transmitting digital AV(AudioNideo) contents and on-screen display (OSD), a signal transmissionmethod including: a process of judging whether a transmission is OSDtransmission or not; and a process of transmitting the OSD through aanalog connect if the transmission is judged as the OSD transmission. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein the OSD is transmitted throughthe analog connect only when the volume of the OSD is larger than acertain volume.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digitalAV contents are transmitted through a digital connect during the OSD istransmitted through the analog connect.
 4. In a system for displayingthe digital contents and the OSD by connecting a signal output apparatusand a signal input apparatus, the signal output apparatus including afirst controlling unit for controlling an OSD generating unit so thatthe OSD is transmitted through the analog connect if the volume of theOSD is larger than a certain volume; and the signal input apparatusincluding a second controlling unit for controlling a video display unitso that an OSD input terminal is switched into an analog terminal whenthe OSD larger than a certain volume is transmitted from the signaloutput apparatus by communicating with the first controlling unit.